What’s cookin’, Tucson?
This month marked a new year of new dishes, beverages, and experiences at local restaurants, bars, pop-ups, events, and more. We ended up with a pretty diverse list this month.
Here’s a look back at what the Tucson Foodie team enjoyed the most in January. Also, not only are these reminders of the dishes we ate, but they can also be a guide for your own decisions on what to eat here in Tucson.
Addie Ibarra
Obon Sushi- + Bar + Ramen
I’ve eaten incredibly well this month! I enjoyed one of the most satisfying meals ever at Obon. Their new lunch menu is what dreams are made of. I couldn’t leave without street noodles and Bird Buns.
Le Rendez-vous
I went to Le Rendez-vous and it was abundantly clear why they were listed as one of Arizona’s Best French Restaurants. I usually wouldn’t have opted for a puff pastry for dessert, but the pithivier was in a league of its own. This reminds me, and it pains me to have to say, but be nice to your servers. Show some kindness.
The Little One
Tito & Pep
I also went to Tito & Pep. I made an entire meal out of their apps and desserts. It was the perfect date night; it always is.
Da’Lice Shepard
Zio Peppe
I felt kinda boring ordering the Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo but turns out, it was a masterful choice. Bravo, Zip Peppe!
Donut Bar
WTF… Are You Nuts? is a perfect name for the outrageous donut burger special at the locally-owned Donut Bar downtown. This thing is extreme and oh so damn delicious!
COMBO: Ray Ray’s Sonoran Spirit Tea and Go Dim Sum at Saint Charles Tavern
Want to have a perfect day? Here’s the ingredients – pick a sun-filled spot on the patio at Saint Charles, order a Ray Ray’s Sonoran Spirit Tea (it’s on tap there), and DoorDash Go Dim Sum. Best day ever!
Edie Jarolim
Cafe at the J
Post-Hanukkah latkes, happily on the menu at the JCC’s Cafe at the J in January. It’s always the right time of year for potato pancakes and these come with a generous salad and sour cream.
Feng-Feng Yeh
El Minuto Cafe
It really had been a minuto since me and two of my friends had eaten at El Minuto (probably at least 10-15 years) It felt nostalgic. Even a woman sitting next to us was recounting her pride in the Tucson cheese crisp. It made us all realize how special this not quite a quesadilla, not quite a pizza crispy crunchy cheesy goodness really is! The green chili at El Minuto Cafe is a rite of passage.
Ruchikala
Only available by pop up but probably the most interesting and beautiful iteration of Southeast Asian and Mexican fusion I’ve ever had was this tostada by chef Kusuma Rao that complimented an intimate art retrospective of their father’s incredible painting and drawings. Follow @ruchikala.
5 Points Market & Restaurant
New on the 5 Points dinner menu is this hearty Kale Caesar Salad that has a thick cashew-based sauce so vegans and almost all eaters can rejoice for a non-wimpy salad classic Fun fact: did you know the Caesar salad was invented in Mexico by an Italian man? The toasted fatty bread chunks take you to another dimension. Go pro and have it with cheese, anchovies, and/or chicken.
Tumerico
A James Beard nomination is a great excuse to try chef Wendy Garcia’s Tumerico but I love using the excuse of going there to fulfill my veggie intake. Why drink a smoothie or a salad when you can have the tastiest huitlacoche tostadas, and red chile tamales stuffed with perfectly seared potatoes and jackfruit? These veggies definitely have “all the powers.”
Hannah Hernandez
Ensenada Street Food
Ensenada Street Food’s new breakfast menu is here! Chilaquiles, pancakes, breakfast burritos, and more. The chorizo and potato breakfast burrito is my favorite. Breakfast is available Tuesday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Tran’s Fats
Jackie’s food is so good. Vegan and gluten-free options. On my latest visit, I enjoyed the Shroom Dumplings, Crunchy Potato Mochi, Crunchy Cauliflower, and Potato Tots.
Tumerico
Chef Wendy Garcia is a James Beard semifinalist, and Tumerico made Yelp’s list of ‘Top 100 Places To Eat!’ Pretty cool. My favorite order at Tumerico: the red chili vegan tamale plate, a lavender latte, and a 1220 Bakery scone.
Kim Johnston
Blue Front
Pies? Downtown? Genius.
Mark Whittaker
Panda One
As a certified curry fanatic and a longtime fan of Panda One, I had to try their #37, the Singapore Noodle. Never had it before but one cold, cold night I decided to give it a go — so glad I did. This dish is now one of my regular customers and the not-so-great photo I took of it recently was probably my third or fourth time eating it this month. It was late and I just wanted to eat. The curry isn’t overpowering, a good amount of heat, and the cuts of vegetables, pork, chicken, and a bunch of shrimp hiding in a vast nest of perfect al dente thin noodles always make me really happy. Definitely give this dish a shot because yum.
Sleeping Frog Farms
As a food writer, as a guy with a metabolism the speed of slugs racing in syrup, and as a guy officially in the middle of his middle age, I have to eat as healthy as possible when not working. Thankfully, the good kids at Sleeping Frog Farms provide the best-tasting pink grapefruits I have had the pleasure to eat since moving to Arizona almost 20 years ago. These are pink grapefruits — not those ruby reds you get at the supermarket which is way too bitter and probably the reason you’re not all that into grapefruits. Sleeping Frog Farm’s grapefruits are juicy, tart, tasty, and packed with tons of nutrients that my well-abused belly and system definitely need.
Ador Cuisine
Recently the wife and I were extremely fortunate to be a guest at one of Ador Cuisine’s coursed dinners which were so extraordinary that it easily became an article. Chef Adrian Ortega, along with his partner Raymond Felisicimo, created a dazzling display of ideas, flavors, and textures but a standout that night, for me anyway, was the dish titled “Metamorphosis”. Fourth in the line of scrumptiousness, Metamorphosis featured herbed shrimp, gaia spirit cabbage, a caper cherry tapenade, spiralized butternut squash, locally grown arugula, and white Sonoran wheat beans. It was so delicious as it was but when you poured this gaia water Moscato reduction over it the whole sense and sensation of the dish transformed. Hence the name. It’s really difficult to explain in words that incredible experience so all I can think of how to describe it is you know that meme of some dude having his mind blown while the universe explodes around him? Yeah, that.
Matt Sterner
Time Market
If you’re looking for some of the best pizza by the slice in town, Time Market’s got your back. After enjoying one of their craft beers on tap I was only able to eat one of these jumbo slices.
The Delta
The Seafood Gumbo and all of its dark roux gumbo, Gulf shrimp, and crawfish made me feel like I was in New Orleans again. Grab an order of hushpuppies, too, so you can dunk those suckers in the gumbo.
Rita Connelly
El Charro Café
Uptown, Downtown, you know I’ve had my share. Here’s a tasty chile relleno on the patio at Downtown’s El Charro Cafe.
Feast
The outstanding pan-fried salmon at Feast. A huge portion and cooked to perfection. Also, the lobster bread pudding. Try it.
Aqui Con El Nene
Finally, my first time at El Nene. Birria this time. Going back soon to try everything else.
Sariya Jarasviroj
Del Cielo Tamales
Del Cielo’s vegan breakfast with new coconut flour pancake recipe. Delish!
Shane Reiser
Cafe Desta
Kung Fu Noodle
Sizzling Eggplant Tofu from Kung Fu Noodle.
Kingfisher
The El Perfecto Manhattan from Kingfisher.
Sidecar
If you order an NA cocktail from Sidecar and tell me it’s not the adult beverage experience you were looking for, I won’t believe you
Xochitl Gracia
Tran’s Fats
Crunchy Potatoe Mochi from Tran’s Fat.
Samurai Sombrero
Del Cielo Tamales
Vegan Chicken Soup from Del Cielo.
